Fall Salmon and Sturgeon Fishing on the Fraser river
Being on the verge of October brings a few changes to the river and Fall Salmon and Sturgeon Fishing opportunities.
One nice change on the river is being able to fish for salmon, and this includes chinook and chum salmon. Coho salmon are closed to fishing but will open in our area (on the non tidal Fraser) on October 16th. In regards to coho, you can fish for them on the Chilliwack/Vedder and the Chehalis rivers at this time where hatchery coho are open to retention.
Currently, we are fishing chinook salmon on the Fraser. These chinooks are white fleshed and are bound for the Harrison river, which receives an abundant chinook return. Reaching weights up to 60 pounds, these deep broad bodied fish provide excellent fishing with bar fishing rigs, spoons and can be caught on the fly rod. While bar fishing, almost any spinning glo colour seems to work and we’ve had success with silver bodied and red/green topped glos as well as half and half, the batman and watermelon colours. Hanging spoons can be effective when fished in the right locations using orange or green spoons and for the fly angler, most of whom would be using spey rods for the long casts and heavy flies, large orange, red and green intruder style flies can provoke a strike.
While fishing on the Fraser, you may encounter chum salmon on their way up the river. Don’t overlook these fish; if they’re clean and solid fish, they make great eating and are excellent for smoking. Any coho that are incidentally captured must be released until October 16. Once the coho fishery opens up, coho can be caught bar fishing, hanging spoons and casting smaller spoons such as coho’s and crocodiles. Spinners can also be effective as can be a casted and stripped-in fly. Rolled muddler minnows in natural colour, olive wooly buggers and christmas trees can be very effective. All wild coho must be released and you can keep 2 hatchery coho per day.
Water temperatures are starting to fall, and with this signal, the Fraser’s white sturgeon will start to feed actively and regularly. Chum roe is a very effective bait for sturgeon as will be most of the other common baits like lamprey and pike minnow. Please handle these sturgeon carefully and follow the Sturgeon Handling Policy when releasing your fish. Sturgeon are a very hardy fish and we have the privilege of participating in a world class fishery that continues to amaze and delight anglers locally and from around the world.
Have a safe autumn and good luck to all of you out there!
Whether you are looking for a day trip fishing or you want to stay longer, we can arrange everything from your pickup at the airport in a limo, to your hotel accommodation and the best guided fishing tours in the Fraser Valley. Please contact Marc or Maggie on Toll Free: 1-877-887-4366 or use our contact form.
